Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

Commanders 'Dynamic Duo': Heart of Kingsbury's Offense?

Originally posted on FanNation Washington Football
By Adam Schultz | Last updated 2/26/24

A lot will look different for the Washington Commanders in 2024 as several coaching changes coupled with different personnel mean that the franchise, under Dan Quinn, will look to be a better version of the teams that have gone before them.

With so much of the talk this offseason centered around the No. 2 pick and what the Commanders will/won't do, it is easy to forget about the other positions on the field.

The Washington receiver room has good weapons for any incoming quarterback and with Kliff Kingsbury now the offensive coordinator, the scheme will look vastly different to Eric Bieniemy's of a year ago.

In analyzing the Commanders receiving room, NFL.com thinks it starts and stops with just two players - Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson.

"McLaurin and Dotson provide new OC Kliff Kingsbury a dynamic duo who should make life easier on a potential rookie QB," NFL.com writes. "McLaurin, even after getting his extension, remains one of the more underrated playmakers in the NFL, capable of winning on every level. Dotson owns vise grips, is a good route runner and can operate in the slot or out wide. He is especially adept at finding slivers in the red zone."

McLaurin again surpassed the 1,000-yard mark as he continues to be a beacon of consistency regardless of the constantly changing quarterback situation. His veteran knowledge will prove useful for either Sam Howell in his second season or for a young quarterback looking to find his way in the league.

As for Dotson, he backed up his decent rookie campaign with another solid season, catching 49 passes for 518 yards and four touchdowns (joint leader on the team).

But while the pair showed they can be relied upon, with Curtis Samuel set to test the free agent market and not a lot behind the trio, things drop off rather quickly.

"The group needs to find depth to complement the top two, with Samuel headed to free agency," NFL.com wrote. "Given the presence of McLaurin and Dotson, looking to the draft to fill the void makes the most sense, but Washington does have a ton of projected cap space to burn if they want a big free-agent splash."

Washington does have the means to be aggressive in free agency and land a big fish if it so chooses, and adding a high-level receiver for any incoming young quarterback or Howell to utilize will make their jobs easier.

But right now, the feeling is that the Commanders' offense starts and stops with the "dynamic duo" of McLaurin and Dotson - Washington just has to add the right pieces around them.

This article first appeared on FanNation Washington Football and was syndicated with permission.

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